By JOHN LIKANJE
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Northstar Christian won all three of its games this week by double-digits to stand at the top of Section V with 16 victories. Monday afternoon, the Northstar Christian Knights (16-0/No. 8 NYSSWA Class A/No. 3 PS LS Poll) defeated Wilson Magnet, 74-61, at the Rochester Area Players (RAP) Invitational at East High School. Miles Brown scored 25 points, hauled in nine rebounds, swiped four steals, and collected four assists. The senior forward’s brother, Michael, contributed 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and was awarded team MVP.
Friday night, while out-of-area teams were cancelling their games due to difficult weather conditions, the Knights traveled an hour south to Hornell to play the Red Raiders — one of five teams in Class B with nine victories this season (Greece Odyssey -No. 2 PS SS Poll, Newark – No. 9 PS SS Poll, Geneva, and Wellsville – No. 7 PS SS Poll). JJ Garwood’s squad didn’t blink and came away with a 64-33 win. Sean Smith, the Knights’ second-leading scorer this season at 15.5 points per game, netted 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds, handed out four assists, and had a pair of steals. The sophomore guard has tallied 15 or more points in eight games, including a season-high 30 on December 14 against Orchard Park (VI).
Finally, the Knights played their third game of the week and second in less than 24 hours against East Aurora (VI). Garwood’s squad defended home court and secured the 79-58 victory.
The Knights have now won 10 games by double-digits this season, including six straight. In those games, Garwood’s squad is averaging 83.4 points, allowing 60.7, and outscored their opponents by 227 points combined. This upcoming week, Northstar Christian will play a rematch with Corning Painted Post East High School (IV) Thursday night at 6:30 PM. The Knights won their season opener at Corning, 86-62, on November 27.
WE DIDN’T FORGET ABOUT….
McQuaid (10-3/No. 14 NYSSWA Class AA/No. 5 PS LS Poll) played their first game in 10 days Saturday afternoon, went on the road, and handed East (No. 7 NYSSWA Class A/No. 1 PS LS Poll) its first loss of the season. The Jesuit Knights have won four of their last five games. Monroe (11-4) survived for two road victories this week against Eastridge, Wednesday, and Wilson Magnet, Friday night. The Monroe Red Jackets have won four straight games. NE Douglass (11-3) defeated a pair of Class AA contenders in UPrep, Monday afternoon, and Bishop Kearney, Friday night. The NE Douglass Panthers are winners of four of their last five games. Charles G. Finney (13-2/No. 9 NYSSWA Class C/No. 3 PS SS Poll) took care of business last week, taking down Rochester Academy Friday night, 91-53, and Notre Dame of Batavia Saturday evening, 72-64. The Charles G. Finney Falcons have won 11 of their last 12 games with the lone loss at Northstar Christian (No. 8 NYSSWA Class A/No. 3 PS LS Poll) on January 11. Lyndonville (14-1) won its third and fourth games in a row against Akron (VI) Tuesday night, 57-54, and Attica Thursday, 58-48. Scio (10-2) took down Houghton Wednesday, 66-35, and Whitesville Friday night, 72-24. The Scio Tigers are on a six-game win streak.
AND THEN THERE WERE TWO…
Pittsford Mendon (12-0/No. 3 NYSSWA Class A/No. 2 PS LS Poll) and Northstar Christian (16-0/No. 8 NYSSWA Class A/No. 3 PS LS Poll) are Section V’s remaining undefeated teams with 18 days left in the regular season. Although Mendon was able to get past local rival Pittsford Sutherland, four of its next five games are against Leadership, Wilson Magnet, Fairport (No. 9 PS LS Poll), and Greece Athena (No. 19 NYSSWA Class A/No. 4 PS LS Poll). The Fairport Red Raiders are allowing 50.2 points per game in their ten victories this season. The Greece Athena Trojans will be looking to avenge a loss to the Pittsford Mendon Vikings back on December 5. Two of Northstar’s last four games are rematches with Corning (IV) and Charles G. Finney (No. 9 NYSSWA Class C/No. 3 PS SS Poll). The Northstar Christian Knights also play at Bishop Kearney on February 5 against a Kings squad that has lost their last four games by single digits.
WHEN OPPOSITE FORCES MEET
Here are a few upcoming matchups this week featuring top-ranked offenses versus top-ranked defenses:
Hilton vs. Greece Athena – Hilton (No. 8 PS LS Poll) is averaging 71.6 points per game while Greece Athena (No. 19 NYSSWA Class A/No. 4 PS LS Poll) is allowing 55.2. Game set to tip off Monday night at 6:45 PM at Greece Athena High School.
Irondequoit vs. Gates-Chili – Irondequoit (No. 20 NYSSWA Class A/No. 6 PS LS Poll) is giving up 51.5 points per game and Gates-Chili (No. 7 PS LS Poll) is scoring 66.1. Game set to tip off Friday night at 7:15 PM at Gates-Chili High School.
Pittsford Sutherland vs. Churchville-Chili – Pittsford Sutherland allows 54.3 points per game while Churchville-Chili scores 65.1. Game set to tip off Wednesday night at 7:15 PM at Churchville-Chili High School.
Pittsford Mendon vs. Brighton – Pittsford Mendon (No. 3 NYSSWA Class A/No. 2 PS LS Poll) is pouring in 83 points per game and Brighton allows 64.9. Game set to tip off Friday night at 7:15 PM at Brighton High School.
NO CUPCAKE SCHEDULE
Here are a few teams with a potentially difficult schedule to end the regular season:
Bishop Kearney Kings – Bishop Kearney has five regular season games remaining, including three against state-ranked teams. Head coach Kevin Goode’s squad will play: (vs. McQuaid (No. 14 NYSSWA Class AA/No. 5 PS LS Poll)), (at UPrep), (vs. Northstar Christian (No. 8 NYSSWA Class A/No. 3 PS LS Poll)), (vs. Charles G. Finney (No. 9 NYSSWA Class C/No. 3 PS SS Poll)), and (at Canisius (VI)).
McQuaid Jesuit Knights – McQuaid has six regular season games remaining. Two of them are against top-ranked defenses in Irondequoit and Fairport. The McQuaid Jesuit Knights will also matchup with archrival Aquinas. Head coach Jack Leasure’s squad will play: (at Bishop Kearney), (vs. Irondequoit (No. 20 NYSSWA Class A/No. 6 PS LS Poll)), (vs. Fairport (No. 9 PS LS Poll)), (at Webster Schroeder), (at Aquinas), (vs. Leadership).
Irondequoit Eagles – Irondequoit (No. 20 NYSSWA Class A/No. 6 PS LS Poll) has back-to-back games against Class AA contenders McQuaid and Gates-Chili and will travel to Buffalo to take on Park School. Head coach Chris Cardon’s squad has seven regular season games remaining and will play: (at McQuaid (No. 14 NYSSWA Class AA)), (at Gates-Chili (No. 7 PS LS Poll)), (vs. Edison Tech), (vs. Webster Thomas), (vs. Park School (VI) at Villa Maria College in Buffalo), (at Churchville-Chili), (vs. Canandaigua).
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Bishop Kearney’s Kidtrell Blocker and the “The Oop Heard ‘Round the 585.”
This just happened…@ESPNSCTop10 pic.twitter.com/1fUIifgo6k
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) January 21, 2019
Section V Career Active Scoring Leaders | School | Yr. | Career Points |
Miles Brown | Northstar | Sr. | 2,750 |
Adam Enders | Belfast | Sr. | 2,278 |
Justice Smith | Lyons | Sr. | 1,688 |
LaDre Stanford | Avoca | Sr. | 1,683 |
Robert Davis | Wilson | Sr. | 1,552 |
Keith Slack | Gates-Chili | Sr. | 1,525 |
Keegan Ocorr | C.G. Finney | Sr. | 1,515 |
Mason Putnam | Prattsburgh | Jr. | 1,460 |
Jakhi Lucas | UPrep | Sr. | 1,321 |
Daniel Ames | Addison | Sr. | 1,249 |
Tah’Jae Hill | Hilton | Jr. | 1,172 |
Jiahmere Mitchell | NE Douglass | Sr. | 1,162 |
Rondell Watson | Leadership | Sr. | 1,123 |
Chaz Washington | East | Sr. | 1,111 |
Chris Calladine | Andover | Sr. | 1,067 |
Logan Blankenberg | Wayne | Sr. | 1,064 |
Kevin Ryan | Sutherland | Sr. | 1,051 |
Tyquil Glasgow | Monroe | Sr. | 1,033 |
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